v.] THE SIGALIUD RIVER. 91 



its huge fronds are not only among the most graceful of tropic 

 forms, but have the additional advantage of utility. From them 

 the attaps are made, — the large mats used in the construction of 

 the native huts. The young and tender leaves supply the place of 

 cigarette papers, and the heart of the palm, like that of many 

 others in this part of the world, makes an excellent "cabbage," 

 which, either raw or dressed, is by no means to be despised even 

 by the most fastidious. Soon the dreary-looking mangrove swamps 

 become almost entirely replaced by this tree, and ere long a 

 glimpse of the bank is caught, and the huge forest-trees close in 

 on either hand, forming walls a couple of hundred feet in height, 

 between which the stagnant-looking river is dwarfed almost to a 

 ditch. The heat increases, and but few signs of animal-life are 

 evident. The inevitable whimbrel of course is to be found, and 

 the Common Sandpiper {T. hypohiicus) flies past with its clear 

 note of alarm. Were the traveller to confine himself to the lower 

 portion of these rivers, he would find the exploration of one of them 

 quite sufficient for a sample. 



We steamed steadily up stream for five and twenty miles or 

 more without incident, except on one occasion, when an unusually 

 sharp bend proved too much for the steering capabilities of the 

 Vigilant, and we found ourselves crashing full tilt into the jungle. 

 It was the first time I had ever attempted to navigate a forest 

 with a steam launch, and our utter helplessness as the heavy craft 

 was brought up all standing among the Nipas was rather laughable. 

 However, we at length managed to disentangle ourselves, and 

 once more proceeded on our course. No signs of human habitation 

 or clearings were to be seen until we reached our destination — 

 the highest point that the 7-foot draught of the Vigilant permitted 

 her to attain. Here we found a couple of huts, wliicli were inhabited 

 by some natives of the Buludupi tribe, and made fast our craft a 

 short distance farther up stream. It was high water at the time, 

 but as we were assured that there was only a rise and fall of 

 eighteen inches, we did not regard our proximity to the bank with 



